Caffeine is the internet economy's life blood

Caffeine is the internet economy's life blood. Yeah, that's a bold statement, but when your entire industry is over-worked, you should realize that there are complimentary things that we owe a great deal of debt to our success.

Personally, I'm suffering from some bad sleep depression and exhaustion right now. Today, I can not function without caffeine. My "sleep bank" has been exhausted and angry creditors beg for just a minute of rest. Not going to happen this week. I only have one cup of coffee Ghetto Mochatm (see recipe at the end of this post) a day so that I won't build too much of a caffeine tolerance. Coffee is my poison of choice, as it's convenient, ubiquitous, has less calories then Mountain Dew, and more caffeine then anything. What's your favorite pick me up?

If you are lacking sleep and you want to get the most caffeine per 12oz, the chart below should help you determine how to get your fix:

Source: Wilstar.com has breakdown of caffeine by drink taken from the National Soft drink Assoc, FDA, Bunker and McWilliams and Pepsi.  My problem is they don't calculate the right quantities (ex: comparing 8oz of coffee to 12oz of soda). As such, below is the sorted list of caffeine quantities across both sodas and coffee (using the conservative estimates for coffee) for 12oz drinks. Bottom line, if you need your fix, order six espressos (2oz each * 6 =  12 oz), a 12oz coffee, or two red bulls.  Aside - Who knew Pepsi One was stronger then Mountain Dew?!

Drink

Caffeine (12oz)

Coffee, Espresso (12oz)  600
Coffee, Drip 172.5
Red Bull (12 oz) 120
Coffee, Brewed 120
Coffee, Instant 97.5
Tea, brewed, imported brands (avg.) 90
Jolt 71.2
Tea, iced 70.5
Tea, brewed, U.S. brands (avg.) 60
Pepsi One 55.5
Mountain Dew 55
Mountain Dew Code Red 55
Diet Mountain Dew 55
Kick Citrus 54
Mellow Yellow 52.8
Surge 51
Tab 46.8
Diet Coke 45.6
Tea, instant 45
Shasta Cola 44.4
Shasta Cherry Cola 44.4
Shasta Diet Cola 44.4
RC Cola 43
Diet RC 43
Dr. Pepper 41
Diet Dr. Pepper 41
Diet Sunkist Orange 41
Mr. Pibb 40
Sugar-Free Mr. Pibb 40
Red Flash 40
Sunkist Orange 40
Ruby Red 39
Storm 38
Big Red 38
Pepsi-Cola 37.5
Pepsi Twist 37.5
Diet Pepsi 36
Diet Pepsi Twist 36
Aspen 36
Coca-Cola Classic 34
Cherry Coke 34
Lemon Coke 34
Vanilla Coke 34
Diet Cherry Coke 34
Snapple Flavored Teas (Reg. or Diet) 31.5
Canada Dry Cola 30
A&W Creme Soda 29
Nestea Sweet Iced Tea 26.5
Nestea Unsweetened Iced Tea 26
Barq's Root Beer 23
Tea, green 22.5
A&W Diet Creme Soda 22
Hot cocoa 21
Snapple Sweet Tea 12
Lipton Brisk, All Varieties 9
Coffee, Decaf, instant 6
Coffee, Decaf, brewed 4.5
Canada Dry Diet Cola 1.2
Diet Rite Cola 0
Sprite 0
7-Up 0
Mug Root Beer 0
Diet Barq's Root Beer 0
Sundrop Orange 0
Minute Maid Orange 0
A&W Root Beer 0
Slice 0
Sierra Mist 0
Fresca 0

Despite my Colombian heritage, I don't like the taste of coffee, I certaintly don't take it black, and I simply don't understand why anyone would ever want decaffinated coffee (unless their in coffee rehab and need a placebo).  I need some cream and sugar or other flavors to offset the bitter taste. Which brings me to a delicious recipe for office/cube dwellers everywhere, the Ghetto Mochatm.

  • Mix 1 packet of Farmer Brothers hot chocolate mix (No sugar added variety is better) with 12oz fresh coffee. Stir vigorously and enjoy.